Material treating mechanism



July 8, 1947.

H. E. VOGELI MATERIAL TREATING MECHANISM Filed March 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 1947- H. E. VOGELI 2,423,629

r MATERIAL TREATING MECHANISM Filed March 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENTnR #7579) E V06 1' DTTUIEY Patented July 8, 1947 MATERIAL TREATING MECHANISM Harry E. Vogeli, Alliance, Ohio, assignor to The Salem Engineering Company, Salem, Ohio, at

proprietorship Application March 15, 1944, Serial No. 526,588

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of material handling and particularly to apparatus for conveying relatively heavy, substantially cylindrical bodies of work at a predetermined rate of speed through a work-treating unit.

An object of the invention i to provide material handling apparatus for moving a relatively heavy, substantially cylindrical body by a reactive force incident to the rotation of the body.

Other objects include the provision of a conveyer for relatively heavy, substantially cylindrical work in which the propelling forc is incident to the rotation of the work and the rate of propulsion is dependent upon the arrangement of the work-supporting means; the provision of a conveyer for moving work through a treating unit wherein the work is propelled through said unit by a reactive force incident to its rotation; the provision of such a conveyer for such a treating unit wherein the work-rotating means is remote from the treating unit and unafiected thereby; the provision of a conveyer including articulated driving means extending along the path of work movement which is adapted partially to support and elfect rotation of the work, and in which angularly-disposed rotatable discs are adapted to cooperate with the articulated driving means to complete the work support and to advance the work in response to its rotation; the provision of a heat-treating furnace for substantially cylindrical billets within which a conveyer is located for transporting the billets through the furnace at a predetermined rate of speed bythe reactive force between a part of the conveyer and the billets and incident to the rotation of another part of the conveyer; the provision of such a heat-treating furnace and conveyer wherein the billet rotating means is located outside of the furnace heating zone; and the provision of dischargin apparatus for such a heat-treating furnace.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a heating furnace with its roof removed showing a conveyer and discharging mechanism embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Figure 5 is a detail view along line 55 of Fig. 2.

Although the principles of the invention are applicable to many types of installations wherein it is desired to simultaneously rotate and longitudinally move relatively large, substantially cylindrical bodies, they are shown and will be described as applied to a billet heat-treating unit.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, a relatively long heat-treating furnace F is provided with a conveyer C located therein for simultaneously rotating and longitudinally moving billets B therethrough which are fed to the conveyer C by a charging table T. Power for conveyer C is supplied from a source P located outside of the heating zone of the furnace F. As the billets B complete their travel through the furnace F, they are received by a discharging mechanism D adapted to raise the billets, turn them through degrees and deposit them On an inclined ramp.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the furnace F comprises side walls II II; end walls III, II; abase 12; and a top or roof I3 (removed in Fig. 1 to show the conveyer C). The furnace is of conventional design adapted progressively to apply heat from any suitable source to the billets B as they pass therethrough.

The conveyer C comprises a plurality of substantially aligned tubular members I4, I5 and I6 that are joined together by articulate connectors. The left-hand end of tube I4 (as viewed in Fig. 2.), is pinned to a hub I! of a connector having a flange I8. The other end of the connector is fixed to the hub I9 of a coupling 29, which latter is operatively connected to the source of power P to be described later. The end of tube I4 opposite that pinned to hub I! is pinned to one ball 2| of a universal connector 22. The left-hand end of tube I5 is pinned to another ball 23 of connector 22, but along an axis at 90 degrees from that of the pin Within ball 2 I. Accordingly, articulation may be obtained between tubes I4 and I5 by virtue of the connector 22. The right-hand end of tube I5 is pinned to a ball 24 of a universal connector 25 by a pin located along an axis at 90 degrees from that of the pin through ball 23. The lefthand end of tube I6 is likewise pinned to a ball 26 of connector 25, the pin being located along an axis at 90 degrees from that of the pin in ball 24. From the foregoing it is evident that tubes I4, I5 and I6 may have slight articulate motion relatively to each other.

The assembly of tubes I4, l5 and I6 is supported by a plurality of anti-friction bearing supports 21, 23, 29, 30, 3| and 32. Each of these bearing supports is identical with the other and, therefore, only one will be described. Referring to Fig. 3, the bearing support 29 comprises a base 33 adapted tobe rigidly, but adjustably mounted on the base I 2 of the furnace F. Base 33 includes standards 34 and 35, at the upper end of each of which are provided rbosses 36 and 31, respectively. The bosses 36 and 31 are slotted at 38 and 39, respectively, for the reception of trunnioned rollers 40, 4|. The construction is such that rollers 40, 4| may readily be replaced when worn by simply raising tube l5. The angular relation of the slot-s in standards 34 and 35 is such that the weight of tube l5 land that of billets B force the rollers 4!], 4! into the bearings formed in the bosses of standards 36, 31.

The conveyer C also includes means that is. adapted to cooperate with the tubes 84, i5 and E6 to form supporting means for the billets B. This means comprises a plurality of individually supported discs 42, the diameter of which is substantially the same as that of tubes H3, H5 andit. These discs 42 are provided with trunnions journaled in supporting bearings 43 (Fig. 4) that are adjustably mounted on a base member Mi (Figs. 1 and 3) extending along the path of movement of the billets B and substantially parallel with the tubes I4, [5 and IS. The base it may be of any desired construction so long as it provides a support for the bearings Q3. The bearings 43 comprise rectangular blocks having two parallel slots 45 in their upper surface adapted respectively to receive one trunnion each of adjacent discs 42. The rectangular blocks 33 are adjustably mounted in parallel spaced relation along the base 44 and at an angle to the tubes l4, I5 and Hi. The construction and arrangement are such that the slot 45 nearest the tubes l4, l5 and I6 of one block 43 cooperates with the slot 45 farthest from said tubes in a next adjacent block 43 to support a disc 42. This construction sup-ports the discs 42 such that a plane passing through the discs at right angles to its trunnions is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tubes l4, l5 and I6. The blocks t3 support discs 42 at an elevation such that their centers of rotation are substantially the same elevation as those of tubes l4, l5 and It.

From the foregoing, it is evident that a substantially cylindrical body such as a billet B may b supported between the tubes I l, l5 and it on the one hand and the discs 42 on the other hand. The bases 29 and 44 may be separated or moved together, and the diameter of the tubes I l, I5, l6 and discs d2 may be changed to provide optimum conditons for supporting the billets B. 7

Referring to Fig. 2, the source of power P for propelling the billets B through the furnace F comprises a motor Miconnected through a con' ventional speed-reduction unit 41 to a coupling 4.3 adapted to be connected to coupling 25. A pair of rollers 49 is mounted for free rotation and each engages opposite faces of disc [3 to guide the disc I8 and to prevent it from wobbling.

Energization of motor 46 rotates the tube assembly including tubes M, l5 and I6. Depending upon the diameter of the billet B, the bases 29, M are spaced, and the diameters of tubes l4, l5, l5 and discs 42 are such that suflicient friction between the billets B and the tubes M, i5 and i5 is provided to cause the rotating tubes to rotate the billets B. Furthermore, the rotating billets B react on the discs 42, causing their rotation, and by virtue of their angular disposition, they provide a reactive force on the billets B to move them axially relatively of the furnace F. The angle at which the discs 42 are arranged relatively to the billetsv B determines the lead or forward feed of the billets for each revolution of the billets. Accordingly, varying the angular disposition of discs 42 and the speed of rotation of tubes l4, l5 and IE will provide a relatively large range of rates of movement, both rotaryandaxial, of the billets 4 B to meet the demands required in treating the work.

The charging platform may be of conventional design and is here shown as an apron 5.0 on each side of conveyor C located between the entrance to furnace F and power unit P. The aprons 50 are slightly inclined forming a trough, the bottom of which comprises a portion of conveyer C. Accordingly, billets may be loaded from either side of the furnace and when deposited upon the charging platform, gravitate onto the section of the conveyer C ahead of the furnace F.

As the billets B complete their travel through the furnace F, they are fed to an inclined roller conveyer 55 including a base 52 adapted to support a plurality of concavo-cylindrical rolls 53. The conveyer 5i transfers the billets B from the furnace F to the discharge mechanism D.

The discharge mechanism D comprises. a work or billet receiver 5 1 made up of a support 55 adapted to support a plurality of concavo-oylindrical rolls 55 similar to rollers 53. It is provided with an abutting portion 51 at its lowest end against which billets B come to rest when received from the conveyer 5i. The receiver 54 is fixed to the freeend of a piston 58 that is adapted to be reciprocated within a cylinder 59. The cylinder 59. is fixed against axial and rotary movement within a tube 55. The outer periphery of cylinder 59 is provided with a slot 6i adapted to receive a follower 52 journ'aled on a trunnion fixed to the peripheryof piston 53. Referring to Fig. 5, the configuration of slot 6! is such that movement of piston 58 throughout its wOrking stroke will rotate it and receiver 54 through degrees. The lower end of tube 69 is threaded to receive a plug 63 having a shaft 64 threaded into a boss on a fixed base plate65. Plate 65 is provided with a vertically-disposed fin 66 rigid with tube 8i] for supporting it in operative position. Pressure medium is admitted beneath piston 53 through conduit 5] each time a billet B is received on member 54.

The connection between support 55 and piston 58 includes. a hinged joint 59, Figs. 1 and-2. The support. 55 also includes an arm or lever 10 extending outwardly beyond hinge 69 andadapted, when the piston 58 approaches its upper position, to contact a fixed abutment H. Continued upward movement of piston 58 causes support. 55 to. pivot about hinge 68, thereby effecting the deposit of the billet B onto an inclined slide 12 that conveys the treated billet away from the furnace F.

Although the various features of they material handling and treating unit have been shown and describedin detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that numerous changes may be made in such details, and certain features may be used without others, without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising in combination, amaterial-treating compartment; means within said compartment including a plurality of aligned tubular members joined together by articulated connectors; a plurality of individually rotatable discs arranged along a path substantially parallel with that formed by said tubular members and each rotatable in an upstanding plane angularly disposed with respect to the principal, axis of said tubular members to form with said tubular members supporting means forsubstantially.

cylindrical work pieces adapted to be treated; means for rotating said tubular members; and discharging means located at the exit of said compartment.

2. Conveying apparatus for use in a materialtreating compartment comprising in combination an elongated roll extending longitudinally in said compartment, means to support said roll, means to rotate said roll about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of individual disk-like supporting rolls spaced longitudinally along one side of said elongated roll to form a trough-like path for objects to be conveyed, and means mounting said disklike rolls for rotation in upstanding planes obliquely disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis whereby said objects will be caused to be rotated and simultaneously advanced longitudinally along said path.

HARRY E. VOGELI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 972,167 De Bay Oct. 11, 1910 1,593,351 Paige July 20, 1926 1,695,515 Uhrig Dec. 18, 1928 529,031 Johnson Nov. 13, 1894 553,544 Schmidt Jan. 28, 1896 2,317,009 Wilson et a1. Apr. 20, 1943 1,564,926 Armstrong et a1. Dec. 8, 1925 1,741,981 Dewey et a1 Dec. 31, 1929 1,933,404 Allen et a1. Oct. 31, 1933 1,928,339 Mulvany Sept. 26, 1933 2,198,178 Postlewaite Apr. 23, 1940 1,467,236 De Lavaud Sept. 4, 1923 

